MANILA – The Nike Rise team ended their six-week journey with an exhibition game last Sunday against the Nike All-Stars composed of UAAP, NCAA and Perlas Pilipinas players.
The former put up a heroic fight even if they lost to their more experienced opponents with a final score of 97-73. At the end of the game, Rossini Briana Espinas, one of the two young girls with the team, was in tears because she was so grateful for the opportunity that Nike gave them, saying she was sad that the team will now have to go their separate ways.
The final Rise team was composed of 14 talented young basketball enthusiasts from all over the Philippines, who were given the opportunity to train and rise beyond their limits with former national head coach Chot Reyes and PBA hero Jimmy Alapag.
The 14 lucky streetballers who fought their way into the final Rise line-up were: Algin Andaya, Roland Vinasoy, Kristine Cayabyab, Nelso De Ocera, Dean Fudotan, Kherlie Pino, Jair Borne Marabe, Jude Luke Bulan, Michael Angelo Pingol, Norman Torbelles, John Paul Fernandez, Vincent Patrick Romero, Rossini Briana Espinas, and John Lester Tobilla.
The Nike All-Stars were composed of Ateneo de Manila University’s Thirdy Ravena, Jolo Mendoza, Gian Mamuyac, and Shaun Ildefonso; De La Salle Zobel’s Aljun Melecio, Brent Paraiso, and Martin Romero; La Salle Green Hills’ Ricci Rivero; and Allana Lim of Perlas Pilipinas. In a simple ceremony after the game, Aljin Andaya of Navotas was hailed as the most valuable player of the Rise team.
Even without a trophy though, the two young girls who made it to the final 14, Kristine Cayabyab of Pangasinan and Rossini Briana Espinas of Davao were the most applauded.
Unconfirmed reports say that 12 out of 14 members of the Rise team have been offered educational and sports scholarships in various schools in the country. Ending in tears and a shower of confetti, it’s only just the beginning of a new journey for these athletes as they ascend to new heights.
